Strike action by toll booth staff working on the Severn bridges would “impact greatly” on the Welsh economy and would be “extremely irresponsible”, business leaders said today.

Strike action by toll booth staff working on the Severn bridges would “impact greatly” on the Welsh economy and would be “extremely irresponsible”, business leaders said today.

Unite the union are in talks with Severn River Crossing (SRC), which runs the bridges, to avoid a strike after around 70 staff voted overwhelmingly for industrial action over proposed shift changes.

According to the union, the company sent a letter to employees last month informing them of imminent changes to their shift patterns.

Regional officer Jeff Woods said SRC bosses threatened staff with disciplinary action should they not agree to the changes.

He added while talks are ongoing, any industrial action has been suspended but should the two parties fail to reach an agreement a strike will more than likely take place.

Iestyn Davies, of the Federation of Small Businesses Wales, criticised the toll booth staff, and stressed the importance of the two bridges to the Welsh economy.

He said: “The Severn Bridge continues to be a critical route into Wales not just for business and tourism but also for people going about their daily lives.

“The crossings are vital connectors for us all and any strike action would impact greatly on a great deal of people and would be extremely irresponsible.”

It is understood SRC are required to keep open the bridges regardless of whether a strike takes place. SRC bosses are thought to be planning to suspend tolls in the event of industrial action.

But Mr Davies said: “Any industrial action is going to have an immediate impact on the economy, there is no doubt about it. And this would be something we really cannot afford to happen in the current climate.

“We believe in a one economy concept, there is no division in our eyes between public and private economy.

“It is a team game, particularly in these times, and we would urge all parties to respect that and be part of team Wales.”

Responding to the criticism, Mr Woods said: “It’s the management of SRC that are being irresponsible when they decide to enforce totally unfriendly shift patterns on employees who have worked in excess of 15 and 20 years without consultation or discussion.

“It is sad that we have had to do this but at the end of the day I am here to protect my members. It is irresponsible of and dictatorial of SRC to say ‘this is what you will work otherwise we will punish you’.

He added: “We are in discussions with SRC and we have sent a suspension on any strike action so that we can sit down around the table and talk constructively.

“Both parties are hopeful of resolving this issue and I believe we can.”

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